Business

Comparing London and Frankfurt as world cities. The report examines changing relations between London and Frankfurt with the introduction of a single European currency and the decision to locate the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. Based on interviews with key personnel in global financial and business service firms and institutions in both cities, the findings support a network model of inter-city relations, which, the authors contend, is more appropriate than the simplistic competition model that dominates public discussion. By Jonathan V. Beaverstock, Michael Hoyler, Kathryn Pain, Peter J. Taylor.

In the Public Interest? Assessing the potential for Public Interest Companies Public Interest Companies are ?not-for-profit? organisations that deliver public services. Frequently controversial, they are at the forefront of the debate about the future of public services. Network Rail, National Air Traffic Services, housing associations, further education colleges, school companies, NHS foundation trusts and ?not-for-profit PFIs? are just some of the Public Interest Companies in use or that have been proposed. This report provides a hard-headed analysis of what role Public Interest Companies should play in the future of public services and follows on from ippr?s work on Public Private Partnerships. It suggests that these alternative organisational forms might help safeguard the public interest when contracting for public services and might better involve local communities in the delivery of services. However, difficult issues remain regarding finance, risk, accountability and governance. Public Interest Companies should only be used with caution.

The Regulatory State: Labour and the utilities 1997-2002. Drawing on his experience as a special adviser in the DTI and DTLR between 1997 and 2002, ippr's former senior economist Dan Corry analyses developments in how the state regulates public utilities. While Labour has continued to put competition and the consumer first, it has significantly improved many of the details of the regulatory process. Above all, the Labour Government has clarified that regulation remains at heart a political process that demands the state set a clear policy framework for balancing a range of policy objectives. Dan Corry emphasises that the key issue now facing regulation policy is how to reconcile environmental objectives with the central focus of policy on promoting competition and delivering the lowest price to the consumer.

Managers and leaders: raising our game - The small business agenda This is a policy note following the joint DfES and DTI Government response to the report of the Council for Excellence in Management and Leadership, which was published in September 2002 in response to the CEML report Managers and leaders: raising our game. It focuses in on the CEML small firms recommendations and government?s particular response to them.